Don't be put off by the iPod reference: there are several good reasons to buy the Terratec even if you don't have one. Although it looks like a single unit, the Noxon 2 Radio comes in two parts. Beneath the main unit sits a chunky speaker base, which has two front-facing speakers and a third beneath, for extra bass. This makes it ideal if you want good-quality sound without having to connect a separate set of speakers.
On top is the iPod dock, which lets you play music from all but the earliest iPods (third-generation models onwards are supported, including all nanos), and there's a USB port on the side so you can play tracks from a USB memory drive or hard disk, rather than leaving your PC switched on to get tracks from it. If you have a non-Apple MP3 player, you could connect its USB cable here and access files stored on it.
Like the Revo, the Terratec has a handy built-in FM radio, which means you can listen to local radio stations that may not be available on the Internet. It's also a useful backup if your broadband connection fails. There's no telescopic aerial, though, just a T-shaped piece of wire, which isn't particularly neat.
The good news is that the supplied list of Internet radio choices is huge, approaching 10,000 stations. There's also a menu for podcasts, allowing you to browse by location or genre, just like with radio stations. However, unlike the Revo, the Noxon 2 doesn't support listen-again services.
There are a couple of other niggles, too. Volume has to be controlled using both the remote and the dial on the back of the speaker - they don't duplicate each other. Even though the display on the front of the unit is bigger than the Revo's, it's slow to update, and menus are nowhere near as intuitive as the SqueezeBox's.
Overall, the Terratec has a lot of features, but it certainly isn't cheap. Terratec promises listen-again services will be available in a future software update, but until this happens and the price drops, we can't quite recommend it.
System Specifications
Connections: 802.11g with WEP, WPA and WPA2, 10/100 Ethernet
Formats: MP3, WMA, unprotected AAC, OGG Vorbis
Software: TwonkyMedia
Extras: FM radio, iPod dock
Size: 165 x 165 x 150mm
Verdict
Good-quality built-in speakers make this iPod-friendly radio a handy listening companion. Lets you play music from many sources and listen to podcasts, but it's expensive and quirky.
Author: Jim Martin
Computer Buyer Online